The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire

by Lawrence Keppie

The Making of the Roman Army explores how a small citizen militia guarding a village on the banks of the Tiber evolved into the professional Roman army. Lawrence Keppie pays particular attention to the transitional period between Republic and Empire - the time of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Augustus. Keppie overcomes the traditional dichotomy between a historical view of the Republic and an archaeological approach to the Empire by making the most of the often overlooked archaeological evidence from the earlier years.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History, Ancient History, Military Fiction, Roman History, Ancient

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Lawrence John Forbes Keppie is a Scottish historian and archaeologist. He attended Coatbridge High School and then studied classics at Glasgow University where he came under the influence of A.R. Burn, who first introduced him to epigraphy. After graduation he transferred to Balliol College, Oxford, where he studied Roman history and archaeology.

Professor Keppie started his digging career as a schoolboy on a medieval castle site in Cumbernauld, before moving on to participate in the Scottish Field School of Archaeology excavations at Birrens Roman fort under the directorship of Anne Robertson. The first excavation he directed himself was on a section of the Antonine Wall at Carleith in 1969.

Dr. Keppie was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland in 1971, of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1978 and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1995. He served as the Honorary Secretary of the Glasgow Archaeological Society, Vice President and then the 45th President of the Society from 1988 to 1991. He also served as a curator at the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow University.

Dr. Keppie's academic career throughout has been focused on Roman Scotland, Roman Italy and the Roman army. He is now retired.

Reviews

[Checkman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a nice companion piece to Graham Webster's The Roman Imperial Army . While Webster took the forensic approach to the Roman Army and focused on the physical structure ( armor, weapons, organization, forts, etc. ) Dr. Keppie looks at the evolution of the army, from the days of the Republic to the early Empire and the role the army played in this transition, both positive and negative. When read in conjuncture with Dr. Webster the book fits in nicely. There are photographs, drawings, and layouts of roman camps over diagrams of the archeological excavations of the actual forts and camps. This a very easy/pleasurable read and would make a nice addition to one's personal library.

[Michael Astfalk · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading Chesterton's description of the Punic Wars in The Everlasting Man my interest in Roman history was reinvigorated. While much attention is typically given to the era of the Empire, I wanted to look specifically for something on the Roman Republic, the era that is probably the most "Roman" in the sense that the culture and government of Rome forged and brandished across the Mediterranean. The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire by Lawrence Keppie was a suggestion from my old Latin teacher and it did not disappoint. Though primarily a military history, the book does provide an approachable sketch of the history of Rome from the last Roman kings, the development of the senate and the people of Rome, and ending on the beginning of the Roman Empire under Augustus Caesar. With just enough information to describe military developments and changes, the book does not bog the reader down with too many details of any one specific event or generation, allowing one to look at a wider panorama of the growing Empire.

I was unfortunately careless enough not to notice the glossary in the back of the book though until I finished it, which would have elucidated many of the unfamiliar Roman terminology used. Keppie provides quite a bit of interesting archaeological information as well, although due to my unfamiliarity with the field I felt myself tangled up in these details a couple of times. I will say that it was interesting to learn just a little bit about Napoleon III's interest in Roman history and the significance that these topics would maintain throughout European history, perhaps demanding a book on the history of Roman archaeology (I assume this already exists but I haven't looked for it).

I had hoped to learn more about the government and culture of the Roman Republic which is not entirely lost on this book. The military was of course a key instrument of the government, and some military positions were stepping stones for a senatorial career while the later Julio-Claudian Emperors would become ruling military commanders. Nonetheless, I do feel better equipped to pursue other related subjects within the Roman Republic after reading this book and I can't say it was a bad start.

[Sara Mayor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a class but soon found myself reading it out of my own free will! As someone who is not a historian, history student, or particularly interested in Roman history, it provided an interesting and nicely detailed analysis of the development of the Roman army and society alongside it, and many great figures - and, as a neat bonus, helped inform a lot of my knowledge of historical references to the Romans! It can admittedly drag a bit if you’re not a history buff, but the well-roundedness of the historical, political, and military details kept me coming back.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly informative. Chapters 1 and 7 are good references and the bibliography is a treasure trove.

[Rafael Alfredo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keppie does an excellent job of giving us a general, but sufficiently detailed overview of the Roman army from its early Republican days as mere hoplites, until the Early Imperial Army 600 years later. The book does well in highlighting key themes and individuals that shaped the army in various stages, as well as depicting several pivotal battles in the Republic's history from the Heraclea to Actium. Its appendix even has a complete list of the legions!

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stuff on the early Republic really held my interest, but you can only look at roman numerals for so long until you get bored.

The chapters vary wildly in length, so some parts seem hastily crammed together.

By the end of the book I was just skimming.

[Mike]

This, and the Mark Antony book I found at a used book store. Too many books and too little time.....

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars because the subject matter was interesting.

[Benjamin Spurlock · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clear, concise, and thorough explanation of the Roman army- from its humble beginnings, through the height of its glory, and finally the decline into decrepitude.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Keppie discusses the evolution and composition of Roman military forces. Tactics and strategy are also mentioned.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only got about quarter way through and failed to keep my interest. Gave it 3 stars as it was well enough written, but just not to my taste. But early chapters on very early history were good.